Matthew Sakies tewa Gilbert, Assistant Professor of American Indian Studies and History at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), is enrolled with the Hopi Tribe from the village of Upper Moencopi in northeastern Arizona. Centering his research and teaching on Native American history and the history of the West, he examines the history of American Indian education, the Indian boarding school experience, and American Indians and sports. In addition to his research and teaching responsibilities, he serves on the Editorial Board of History Education Quarterly and as a board member of the Hopi Education Endowment Fund.

Dr. Sakiestewa Gilbert received his Ph.D. and M.A. in history from the University of California, Riverside, and holds a M.A. in theology from Talbot School of Theology/Biola University. Prior to his current post in American Indian Studies & History, Professor Sakiestewa Gilbert served as a Postdoctoral Research Associate in American Indian Studies at UIUC, and as an adjunct faculty in History at the University of Redlands, Azusa Pacific University, San Bernardino Valley Community College, and The Master's College.